Page 12 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication

12 Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation
THE E-MOBILITY REVOLUTION

The e-mobility revolution

By Anna Lisa Boni (pictured), Secretary General, EUROCITIES E-mobility is set to herald a
small revolution in our cities.
From ride sharing apps, to
publicly accessible e-bikes
and scooters, and increasingly
electrified public transport options,
e-mobility is becoming ever more
evident in our daily lives. However,
this leads to many challenges, as
well as opportunities. With a wide
variety of players in the urban
mobility scene, it’s more important
than ever to ensure that mobility is
part of a broader, sustainable, smart
city strategy, and that’s where city
authorities are able to act.

Local mobility plans
The humble bicycle has undergone
a facelift in recent years, and Milan
is one of several cities leading the
charge for e-bikes. Electric bikes
give cities the opportunity to tackle
common challenges, such as air
pollution and promote more active
lifestyles, while redesigning their
mobility model.

Sharing Cities, an EU funded project
which brings together ‘lighthouse’
and ‘fellow’ cities, and in which
EUROCITIES plays a main part, has
helped Milan in these endeavours.
Thanks to the project, Milan has
installed 7 bike sharing stations and
150 e-bikes with child seats have
been made available.

Of course, one of the linchpins of the
e-mobility revolution is the focus by
city administrations on developing
sustainable urban mobility plans. That
is to say, understanding the wider
urban mobility ecosystem. A move
towards e-mobility often comes
hand in hand with more connectivity,
digitalisation and automation of
transport services. Together these
emerging mobility trends directly
impact how cities design urban areas.

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